Emilia's Crafted Pasta Aldgate

This follow-up to Emilia’s Crafted Pasta in St Katharine Docks has opened its doors in Aldgate. It feels intimate without being claustrophobic, with cutesy interiors including white marble tables, terracotta tiles and chalk drawings of The Lady & The Tramp sharing a bowl of spaghetti up on the blackboard.

The short menu of antipasti and pasta dishes is served from a semi-open kitchen, with each of the seven available pastas inspired by various regions of Italy. Kickstart your meal with a creamy dollop of burata served with toasted ciabatta that has been drizzled with olive oil, before moving on to the house speciality pasta.

Our top pick is the buttery parcels of handmade ravioli, stuffed with tender organic lamb and finished with shavings of parmesan. We also enjoyed our silky carbonara, with the usual pancetta joined with chunks of smoked salmon.

For dessert, we wish our chocolate brownie had been warmed up, but scoops of vanilla ice cream dripping with honey and sprinkled with crushed amaretti and cantuccini biscuits hit all the right, indulgent notes.

Amiable service and a wine list made up of Italian vintages are further draws, making Emilia’s a reliable spot for a casual dinner.

This pasta-only restaurant already has a site in St Katharine Docks, and has now doubled its portfolio with this larger space. The rustic-chic interiors feature terracotta tiles offset by white marble tables, while an open kitchen allows diners to watch the chefs at work, and passers-by can be tempted by the manned pasta counter in the restaurant’s window.

On the menu, you’ll find seven pasta dishes inspired by various regions in Italy, alongside a regularly updated specials board. Example dishes include the four hour slow-cooked Bolognese, or the casarecce pasta paired with a walnut and chestnut mushroom sauce. Complementing the pasta is a short wine list which is largely made up of Italian vintages, but there are cocktails and craft beers too. Weather permitting, you can enjoy an pre-meal aperitif on the outdoor terrace.